Toni Bruins, Johan Cruyff's ex-helped at Barcelona and currently a scout at Ajax has baptised Frenkie de Jong as 'the king of the rondo' after he completed his move to the Catalan for an initial 75 million euros.
Toni Bruins, Johan Cruyff's ex-helped at Barcelona and currently a scout at Ajax has baptised Frenkie de Jong as 'the king of the rondo' after he completed his move to the Catalan for an initial 75 million euros.
"De Jong es más un Iniesta que un Busquets"
"He has such a fine technique, he's a footballer of the very top level," he told Esports Cope, before saying the midfielder is more Andres Iniesta than Sergio Busquets.
"De Jong can play in Busquet's position, but he doesn't have the defensive level of Sergio. He has exceptional quality, though. He could play Xavi's role, too, but he's more Iniesta.
"His profile is to drift to the left and his vision can be taken advantage of in the final third. He has a touch like Laudrup."
De Jong's qualities ("he's the best in the rondos, which were created by Johan Cruyff," he says) mean he will perfectly fit "the Barça style."
Bruins added: "He needs to improve physically, though. He's young, only 21, and he has to grow to compete in Spanish football.
"But he can add something extra playing in a team with players like Lionel Messi, the greatest. He doesn't lose the ball, he has great vision and, I repeat, a great touch."
Finally, despite his youth, he said that De Jong "is a serious kid, a really good person and a cool customer. He's not influenced by his surrounding or the fans -- he has competitive mentality."